Hello all. Iv'e been going through ammonia dosing my tank to cycle it. I'm hitting a point of frustration with the API nitrate test kit. If I follow the directions exactly, i'm reading 5ppm nitrates after letting the sample sit for 5 minutes. If I wait 45 minutes to read the test tube color, i'm reading 40ppm. What the ****** ***. Is the test color suppose to shift over time?
API Nitrate test result changing over time?
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mich2599
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I started off using API but then bought a red sea kit and I love it. I don’t really trust API as i’m getting different results vs what red sea gives me. I can’t remember how long you have to wait for the nitrate test for AP, but for red sea is 10 minutes. If I were you I would invest in a better test kit.
hanslanda
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I have heard this before. Iv'e also heard the opposite. Information regarding the quality of API test kits is tick-poor at best. Some people love them and swear by them. Others wouldn't ever consider them. Puts me in an awesome position of uncertainty.
API kits are easy to use however not very precise. After becoming familiar with testing, many folks move on to more precise kits such as Red Sea, Hanna or Salifert. I recently switched to Salifert and find it very easy and precise.
hanslanda
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I'm not really going to be using ammonia testing nor nitrite testing outside of cycling... so to me it seems like a waste to spend an additional $70 on test kits that wont be useful to me beyond this month. So far iv'e found the ammonia and nitrite test to be extremely accurate. I think the real problem is people haven't yet found an exact method of testing. Take for example this problem i highlighted. Nitrate test changes over time. I verified it last night when the sample I took earlier read 5ppm @ 5 minutes. @ 3 hours it read 20-40ppm. @ 8 hours it read 80ppm. These tests appear to be very time sensitive. It would appear the key is to take your reading at EXACTLY the time interval it directs(for nitrate, no other test sample exhibited this result). Perhaps the variance is people checking their samples at inconsistent times. Moving forward i will use the exact time and just record at that time and not look at it again... this is likely API's expectation.
Shufflepig
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The reading you get at 5 minutes is the correct reading. The color will change as you let it sit longer. That is why you are supposed to time it and use the 5 minute color change
hanslanda
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VIN you'll notice i'm expressly rejecting that notion right here in this thread. I'm of the argument API is no less accurate than any of the other tests if you simply and strictly follow the directions. I proved with data the nitrate test is very time dependent. You WILL get varied results if you do not do this.
Shufflepig
Active Member
I agree. A lot of people criticize the API test kits but they always seem accurate for me as long as you follow the directions. Granted it is sometimes difficult to compare the test color to the chart but you will get the information you need.
I was responding to your post re. nitrate test kits did not mention test kits for other elements. Folks are only trying to offer suggestions based on past experience in the hobby in response to your post. No one is criticizing your brand selection, which ultimately is up to you.
It's not the accuracy of API many folks are commenting about, like Shufflepig said it's the difficulty comparing test colors to the API chart & it's inability to measure low levels that folks don't like vs other brands. I follow all instructions to the T and with API it was always a color guessing game (many times had to ask my 11 yr old which color he thought it was) vs other brands. People with tanks that have matured with lots of corals in the reef aquarium target 1-5 ppm of NO3. With the more advanced test kits like Salifert NO3 kit, one can measure such low levels whereas API NO3 kit cannot, thus reason why folks move on from API NO3. I do use API for quick calcium and PH tests though, but no longer for NO3.
